Veteran's Day Thank You

Service to our fellow men and women is the bedrock on which a career in health care is built.

So it should come as no surprise that for many at Adena who answer that calling each day in the performance of their duties, service to their country has also been part of their lives.

Today, as we pay tribute to all the men and women who have put on the uniform in defense of our nation, we asked a few of our caregivers who have served in the armed forces to share some details of their service. We also offer a heartfelt thank you to everyone who has stepped up and sometimes risked all when called upon to protect our freedoms.

Former President Harry Truman once said, “Our debt to the heroic men and women in the service of our country can never be repaid. They have earned our undying gratitude. America will never forget their sacrifices.”

Today, we take time to remember.

Paul Smallwood, Field Services Manager
Term of Service: 20 years in the U.S. Navy
Locations Served: Naval Training Center, San Diego, California; Naval Communication Station, Balboa, Panama; USS Flatley, Mayport, Florida;  Naval Base Lakehurst, N.J.; Corpus Naval Communication Station, Keflavik, Iceland; Corpus Christi, Texas; USS Vicksburg, Mayport, Florida; Naval Training Center, Great Lakes, Illinois (as a Master Training Specialist, IT instructor)
What was most impactful about your experience? Traveling the world and learning about different cultures. Helping different countries build schools for children and providing them with learning material. Visiting local schools to read to students or help with different study topics for pre-K and elementary school children. Visiting Jerusalem’s Wailing Wall and the path Jesus Christ carried the cross was among the most memorable moments, and the friends and families that have entered my life over time have been very impactful.

Chris Schaaf, Enterprise Program Manager
Term of Service: 4 years in the U.S. Marine Corps
Locations Served: Stationed in Camp Lejeune, N.C.
What was most impactful about your experience? Having the chance to travel all over, from Spain to Iraq, and being able to learn from and help a diverse group of individuals. The experience created a brotherhood and sisterhood that became family.

Rhett Holland, Vice President of Quality and Safety
Term of Service: 7 years in the U.S. Army
What was most impactful about your experience? The Army was an amazing experience and I feel blessed to have served my country. What I cherish the most is the bond of brotherhood that formed between those I served with. I will never forget the experiences and my fellow soldiers who always had my back and I theirs.